Erbito Salavarria

The Philippines Forgotten Champion

The Philippines have been getting a lot of boxing press lately through the success of favorite son Manny Pacquiao and deservedly so. The Philippines have produced many great fighters like Flash Elorde and Ceferino Garcia. One such fine fighter and former two time world champion from the Philippines has been largely forgotten through the passages of time. His name was Erbito Salavarria..

Salavarria turned professional in 1963 and won seventeen of his first twenty bouts. In 1966 he lost a decision to Ric Magrano for the Philippine flyweight title. Salavarria and Magrano would split a four fight series with the Philippine crown on the line each time. In 1967 Erbito made his first journey away from the Philippines and lost to Tsuyoshi Nakamura in Tokyo for the Orient – Pacific flyweight title. In 1969 Salavarria would stop Nakamura in a rematch to win that crown.

In 1970 Salavarria won an upset ten round non title decision over reigning WBA flyweight titleholder Berkrerk Chartvanchai. The victory earned Erbito a title shot against WBC flyweight champion Chartchai Chionoi. Salavarria shocked the boxing world as he flattened the great Chionoi in the second round. In 1971 Salavarria defended against Susumu Hanagata ( W-15 ) and Venezuela’s Betulio Gonzalez ( D-15 ). He also lost a non title verdict to Lorenzo ” Halimi ” Gutierrez. In 1973 he lost his title to the fabulous Thai southpaw Venice Borkhorsor.

Salavarria stayed in contention winning four of five fights losing only to Panama’s Alfonso Lopez. In 1975 Salvarria won the WBA version of the flyweight title with a decision over old rival Hanagata. He then defeated Hanagata in a title defense. In 1976 Erbito again met Panama’s Lopez who stripped Salavarria of the title via a fifteenth round stoppage. Erbito would have one more contest being halted by former light flyweight king Netmoi Sor Vorasingh.

Salavarria ended his career with 54 fights, 40 of which he won. He lost eleven and drew three times. He was a major player in the flyweight division through most of the 1970’s.